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and shifting their eyes； looked away at the great valley。 Then they filled in
the grave； brought a head…board from a grave near by； and wrote the name
and date upon it by scratching with a stone。
〃She was sure one of us；〃 said Chalkeye。 〃Let's give her the Lament。〃
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And they followed his lead：
〃Once in the saddle； I used to go dashing；
Once in the saddle； I used to go gay； First took to drinking；
and then to card…playing； Got shot in the body； and now
here I lay。
〃Beat the drum slowly； Play the fife lowly；
Sound the dead march as you bear me along。 Take me to
Boot…hill； and throw the sod over me I'm but a poor cow…
boy； I know I done wrong。〃
When the song was ended； they left the graveyard quietly and went
down the hill。 The morning was growing warm。 Their work waited them
across many sunny miles of range and plain。 Soon their voices and
themselves had emptied away into the splendid vastness and silence； and
they were gone ready with all their might to live or to die； to be animals
or heroes； as the hours might bring them opportunity。 In Drybone's
deserted quadrangle the sun shone down upon Lusk still sleeping； and the
wind shook the aces and kings in the grass。
PART IV
Over at Separ； Jessamine Buckner had no more stockings of Billy's to
mend； and much time for thinking and a change of mind。 The day after
that strange visit； when she had been told that she had hurt a good man's
heart without reason； she took up her work； and while her hands
despatched it her thoughts already accused her。 Could she have seen that
visitor now； she would have thanked her。 She looked at the photograph on
her table。 〃Why did he go away so quickly？〃 she sighed。 But when young
Billy returned to his questions she was buoyant again； and more than a
match for him。 He reached the forbidden twelfth time of asking why Lin
McLean did not come back and marry her。 Nor did she punish him as she
had threatened。 She looked at him confidentially； and he drew near； full of
hope。
〃Billy； I'll tell you just why it is；〃 said she。 〃Lin thinks I'm not a real
girl。〃
〃Aah；〃 drawled Billy； backing from her with suspicion。
〃Indeed that's what it is； Billy。 If he knew I was a real girl〃
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LIN McLEAN
〃Aah；〃 went the boy； entirely angry。 〃Anybody can tell you're a girl。〃
And he marched out； mystified； and nursing a sense of wrong。 Nor did his
dignity allow him to reopen the subject。
To…day； two miles out in the sage…brush by himself； he was shooting
jack…rabbits； but began suddenly to run in toward Separ。 A horseman had
passed him； and he had loudly called； but the rider rode on； intent upon the
little distant station。 Man and horse were soon far ahead of the boy； and
the man came into town galloping。
No need to fire the little pistol by her window； as he had once thought
to do！ She was outside before he could leap to the ground。 And as he held
her； she could only laugh； and cry； and say 〃Forgive me！ Oh； why have
you been so long？〃 She took him back to the room where his picture was；
and made him sit； and sat herself close。 〃What is it？〃 she asked him。 For
through the love she read something else in his serious face。 So then he
told her how nothing was wrong； and as she listened to all that he had to
tell； she； too； grew serious； and held very close to him。 〃Dear； dear
neighbor！〃 she said。
As they sat so； happy with deepening happiness； but not gay yet；
young Billy burst open the door。 〃There！〃 he cried。 〃I knowed Lin knowed
you were a girl！〃
Thus did Billy also have his wish。 For had he not told Jessamine that
he liked her； and urged her to come and live with him and Lin？ That cabin
on Box Elder became a home in truth； with a woman inside taking the
only care of Mr。 McLean that he had known since his childhood： though
singularly enough he has an impression that it is he who takes care of
Jessamine！
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IN THE AFTER…DAYS
The black pines stand high up the hills； The white snow sifts their
columns deep； While through the canyon's riven cleft From there；
beyond； the rose clouds sweep。
Serene above their paling shapes One star hath wakened in the sky。
And here in the gray world below Over the sage the wind blows by；
Rides through the cotton…woods' ghost…ranks； And hums aloft a
sturdy tune Among the river's tawny bluffs； Untenanted as is the moon。
Far 'neath the huge invading dusk Comes Silence awful through the
plain； But yonder horseman's heart is gay； And he goes singing might
and main。
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